Self-publisher Schiel & Denver (S&D) has named five Christian books that have made an impact on political thought.

The Houston-based company polled to examine the role of “how Christian literature has affected governmental decision-making inside the ‘inner belt’ of Congress and played a part in our great nation's continued development as Christianity resonates in U.S. politics at all levels.”

Heading the list was The Faith of Barack Obama by Stephen Mansfield, published by Thomas Nelson in 2008. It “examines the 44th U.S. president's intellectual faith journey, with critical analysis and insightful comparisons to President George W. Bush,” S&D said.

Next was Does God Believe in Atheists by John Blanchard (Evangelical Press, 2000). Noted for allegedly being amongst the reading matter of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford in the wake of his extramarital-affair scandal, the book is cited for its “easy writing style and comprehensive approach to redemption and faith exploration.” 

Sarah Palin: A New Kind of Leader by Joe Hilley (Zondervan, 2008), is said to be a “fascinating and in-depth biography” and “the book that many Americans first turned towards to learn more about the story of Sarah Palin at a critical time in her public career during the 2008 election.”

Nancy Pearcey’s Total Truth: Liberating Christianity From Its Cultural Captivity (Crossway Books, 2004) “has made an undeniable impact on how American evangelicals in Congress have re-examined their place in the secular/sacred divide.” The book “lays the foundation for how Christian educators can address the dissemination of the gospel through Christian schools and ministries across the United States.”

Also on the list is Breakfast With Jesus by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House Publishers, 2003), which S&D says “provides an inspirational and brilliantly written analysis that should be required reading for all Christian schools and universities.”